As protests calm, tensions remain as U.S. seeks to protect embassies

By the CNN Wire Staff

Updated 10:45 AM ET, Sun September 16, 2012

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani demonstrators beat an effigy of Florida pastor Terry Jones during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Lahore on Monday, September 24. More than 50 people have died around the world in violence linked to protests against the low-budget movie, which mocks Islam and the Prophet Mohammed, since the first demonstrations erupted on September 11. See more of CNN's best photography.

Hide Caption

1 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Philippine Muslims gather coins they collected from the provinces to be used to pay for filing a petition before the Philippine Supreme Court in Manila on Monday asking for local authorities to ban the controversial "Innocence of Muslims" film from being posted on the Internet. Hundreds of Muslim protesters in the Philippines called for a ban on the film before the U.S. Embassy.

Hide Caption

2 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A woman speaks on a megaphone prior to filing a petiion before the Philippine Supreme Court in Manila on Monday.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Muslim protesters pray in Omonia Square in central Athens, Greece, during a demonstration on Sunday. Clashes broke out as Muslims staged a demonstration in the square, to be followed by a march to the U.S. Embassy, in protest of the film.

Hide Caption

7 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Protesters smashed the windows of a store during a demonstration in central Athens.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A Kashmiri Muslim student participates in a protest march organized by a Muslim school on Saturday, September 22, against an independently produced anti-Islam film that has ignited anger in the Muslim world.

Hide Caption

12 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A family in Kashmir watches as students protest on Saturday.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Protesters gather to demonstrate against a French magazine that published nude cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed outside the French Embassy in London on Friday.

Hide Caption

19 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani police detain a demonstrator in Lahore on Friday during a protest against the film "Innocence of Muslims."

Hide Caption

20 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A Pakistani demonstrator throws a tear gas shell toward riot police during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Islamabad on Friday, September 21. Angry demonstrators set fire to two movie theaters in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar as many braced for intensified protests Friday, officials said.

Hide Caption

21 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Malaysian Muslim demonstrators march toward the U.S. Embassy after a Friday mass prayer in Kuala Lumpur.

Hide Caption

22 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Protesters take part in a march in Benghazi, Libya, on Friday. The march was in support of democracy and against the Islamist militias that Washington blames for an attack on the U.S. consulate last week that killed four Americans including the ambassador.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani riot policemen hold back lawyers shouting anti-U.S. slogans as they attempt to reach the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, September 19. More than 30 people have been killed around the world during more than a week of attacks and violent protests linked to a controversial film seen as insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.

Hide Caption

30 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A Pakistani lawyer wraps a U.S. flag onto his shoe in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

31 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Police try to stop Pakistani lawyers crawling under a barrier as they try to reach the U.S. Embassy in the diplomatic enclave during a protest against an anti-Islam movie in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

32 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani Muslims shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest against an anti-Islam movie in Karachi on Wednesday. The Pakistan government has declared Friday a national holiday in honor of the Prophet Mohammed and called for peaceful protests against the film.

Hide Caption

33 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani police stand guard on a blocked street in front of the U.S. Consulate during a protest in Lahore on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

34 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani activists of the hard line Sunni party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) offer prayers near the U.S. Consulate on Wednesday in Lahore.

Hide Caption

35 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Lebanese army soldiers secure the area around the French ambassador's residence in Beirut on Wednesday. France has ordered special security measures around its embassies and schools because of fears of a hostile reaction to a magazine's publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, the foreign ministry said.

Hide Caption

36 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Supporters of Hezbollah hold a picture depicting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and chant the slogan "God is Great" during a mass rally in Tyre, Lebanon, on Wednesday. Thousands of Lebanon's Hezbollah followers protested against the United States and France for a film and cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed.

Hide Caption

37 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Members of Justice and Prosperous Party attend a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

38 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – An Indian Muslim student hits a burning effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama during a protest in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

39 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Masked Palestinians are seen during clashes with Israeli security forces in Shuafat refugee camp, Jerusalem, on Tuesday, September 18.

Hide Caption

40 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Indian Muslims burn an American flag with a picture of U.S. President Barack Obama as they protest against a U.S.-made anti-Islam film on Tuesday, September 18, near the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. About 5,000 people have gathered in front of the building. Google India has already blocked access to the film, which the government has condemned as "offensive."

Hide Caption

41 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani Sunni Muslims march during a protest against the anti-Islam movie in Peshawar on Tuesday. Police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of more than 2,000 protesters trying to reach the U.S. Consulate in northwest Pakistan.

Hide Caption

42 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Palestinian protesters throw stones at Israeli security forces during clashes that erupted after a demonstration against an amateur anti-Islam film in Shuafat refugee camp, Jerusalem, on Tuesday. Hundreds of Palestinians protesting against the movie clashed with Israeli border police in East Jerusalem, hurling stones and firebombs at a checkpoint, the military and reporters said.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Kashmiri Muslim demonstrators shout anti-U.S. and Israeli slogans before a clash with Indian police during a protest and one-day strike called by several religious and political organizations in Srinagar on Tuesday.

Hide Caption

45 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Firefighters attempt to extinguish the flames in an Indian police vehicle as protesters clash with police during a protest and in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Tuesday.

Hide Caption

46 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A Kashmiri Muslim boy jumps over a burning tire set up as a roadblock during Tuesday's demonstration Srinagar.

Hide Caption

47 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Kashmiri Muslims throw stones at Indian police during a protest on Tuesday in Srinagar.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah group march during a rally in southern Beirut to denounce the film mocking Islam on Monday, September 17. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who made a rare public appearance at the rally, has called for a week of protests across the country over the film, describing it as the "worst attack ever on Islam."

Hide Caption

51 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Sunni Muslims burn a U.S. flag during a protest in Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday. Protests entered their second week, with demonstrators taking to the streets in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Lebanon.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – Afghan riot police are reflected through a window during an anti-U.S. protest Monday in Kabul, Afghanistan. Protesters attacked police along a road leading to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A protester hits a policeman with a pole in Sydney's central business district on Saturday, September 15. Anger over an anti-Islam video, "The Innocence of Muslims," spread to Australia on Saturday, and protesters took to the streets of the country's capital.

Hide Caption

70 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A man assists a young protester after capsicum spray was used by police near the U.S. Consulate General in central Sydney on Saturday.

Hide Caption

71 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide – A policeman, injured by protesters, is assisted by colleagues in central Sydney on Saturday.

Hide Caption

72 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – A Tunisian firefighter works inside a destroyed school building in the grounds of the American school in Tunis, Tunisia, on Saturday. Four people were killed and almost 50 injured in an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tunis the day before by protesters angry over an anti-Islam film, the health ministry said.

Hide Caption

73 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – A burned bus sits in the grounds of the American school in Tunis on Saturday.

Hide Caption

74 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – A woman collects books from a classroom in the American school in Tunis on Saturday.

Hide Caption

75 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Muslim protesters holding shoes and brooms shout anti-U.S. slogans on Saturday during a protest against the film they consider blasphemous to Islam near the U.S. Consulate-General in Chennai, India.

Hide Caption

76 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Supporters of Islamic political party Jamaat-e-Islami shout slogans during a protest on Saturday in Khyber Agency, Pakistan. The Pakistani parliament passed a resolution on Thursday condemning "The Innocence of Muslims" and urged the U.S. to take appropriate action.

Hide Caption

77 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Supporters of Islamic political party Jamaat-e-Islami shout slogans during a protest in Khyber Agency on Saturday.

Hide Caption

78 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Pakistani Muslims burn a U.S. flag during a protest rally in Islamabad on Saturday. The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday issued a call to young Muslims worldwide and within the country to rise up against an anti-Islam movie.

Hide Caption

79 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Mourners shout slogans during the funeral of a protester who was killed two days ago during clashes with security forces at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, on Saturday . According to media reports, at least four people were killed when hundreds of Yemeni protesters stormed the embassy on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

80 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – Smoke billows from the burning German Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, as a policeman stands next to a man preparing to extinguish the fire caused by protesters the anti-Islam film. Around 5,000 protesters in the Sudanese capital stormed the embassies of Britain and Germany, which were torched and badly damaged.

Hide Caption

81 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – A Sudanese protester, right, takes off his clothes to show policemen that he is unarmed during a protest in Khartoum on Friday. Two protesters were killed as security forces used tear gas against thousands of demonstrators trying to approach the U.S. mission after storming the British and German embassies.

Hide Caption

82 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Muslims hold demonstrations worldwide – A Jordanian protester holds an Islamic book near the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, on Friday. Hundreds of members of Jordanian Salafi Movement gathered after Friday noon prayers in protest of a controversial anti-Islam film.

Hide Caption

83 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Police stand guard near protesters near the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney on Saturday, September 15.

Hide Caption

84 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters clash with police on a street in Sydney's central business district on Saturday.

Hide Caption

85 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Indian policemen walk past smashed windows of the U.S. Consulate building, caused by a mob of demonstrators protesting against an anti-Islam film, in Chennai, India, on Friday, September 14.

Hide Caption

86 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Tunisian protesters try to storm the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on Friday.

Hide Caption

87 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A Tunisian protester holds an Al-Qaeda affiliated flag amid the smoke coming from the tear gas fired by riot police outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on Friday.

Hide Caption

88 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni riot policemen stand guard at a crossroad leading to the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa on Friday.

Hide Caption

89 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni protesters burn a U.S. flag on a street leading to the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa on Friday, September 14.

Hide Caption

90 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni protesters shout during a demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa on Friday.

Hide Caption

91 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni protesters run for cover from tear gas fired by riot police in Sanaa on Friday.

Hide Caption

92 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Jordanian protesters burn a U.S. flag near the U.S. Embassy in Amman on Friday.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Israeli police officers stand behind their shields during clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in a demonstration against an anti-Islam film in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Pakistani soldiers hold back protesters attempting to reach the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Friday.

Hide Caption

103 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – An Egyptian protester throws a tear gas canister toward riot police during clashes near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Friday.

Hide Caption

104 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A Sudanese demonstrator burns a German flag after torching the German Embassy in Khartoum on Friday.

Hide Caption

105 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters throw stones toward riot police during clashes along a road leading to the U.S. Embassy near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday, September 14.

Hide Caption

106 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A riot police officer shouts a warning during clashes in Cairo on Friday.

Hide Caption

107 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters chant during a march to the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, on Thursday, September 13. One protester was killed in clashes when Yemeni security forces dispersed hundreds of demonstrators who gathered around and inside the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa.

Hide Caption

108 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A protester shouts after sustaining injuries in a confrontation with riot police who fired tear gas outside the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa on Thursday.

Hide Caption

109 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters carry flags that read "There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is Allah's messenger" and chant during a protest in Tripoli, Lebanon, on Thursday.

Hide Caption

110 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Palestinians protest the movie "Innocence of Muslims" in front of the Legislative Council in Gaza City on Thursday.

Hide Caption

111 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Iranian demonstrators chant anti-American slogans during a demonstration on Thursday in front of the Swiss Embassy, which serves as the U.S. interests section in Iran, in Tehran.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Kuwaiti police stand guard as hundreds of demonstrators protest near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City on Thursday.

Hide Caption

115 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Arab-Israeli men wave green Islamic flags with the Muslim profession of belief: "There is no God but God and Mohammed is the prophet of God" during a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy on Thursday in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Hide Caption

116 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Egyptian protesters throw stones at riot police during clashes near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Thursday.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Iraqi protesters burn Israeli and U.S. flags during a protest Thursday. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and three others were killed during a protest outside the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday.

Hide Caption

125 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Egyptian protesters clash with riot police Thursday near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

126 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Iranians protest against a film mocking Islam near the Swiss Embassy in Tehran on Thursday. Up to 500 people chanted "Death to America!" and death to the director of the movie, which was made in the United States. The demonstration ended peacefully in two hours.

Hide Caption

127 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – An Egyptian protester throws a tear gas canister at riot police Thursday during clashes near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

128 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Police use tear gas on crowds protesting Thursday outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

129 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames Tuesday, September 11.

Hide Caption

130 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A vehicle and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames after it was set on fire inside the compound on Tuesday.

Hide Caption

131 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames Tuesday night.

Hide Caption

132 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni protesters gather around a fire Thursday during a demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Sanaa. Yemeni forces fired warning shots to disperse the thousands of protesters approaching the main gate of the mission.

Hide Caption

133 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Yemeni protesters try to break the security camera at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa on Thursday.

Hide Caption

134 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Egyptians shout slogans during a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

135 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Egyptian protesters gather in front of the U.S. Embassy the morning after it was vandalized by protesters during a demonstration on Wednesday in Cairo.

Hide Caption

136 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters shout outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, on Wednesday, September 12.

Hide Caption

137 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A group of protesters attend a demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

138 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A demonstrator walks on a U.S. flag during a Wednesday's demonstration at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis.

Hide Caption

139 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – People inspect the damage at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Wednesday, the day after four people were killed.

Hide Caption

140 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Egyptian demonstrators continue to stake out the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

141 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Police confront protesters praying in front of the U.S. Embassy in Casablanca, Morocco, during a rally against the anti-Islam film on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

142 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Moroccan women gather near the U.S. Embassy in Casablanca on Wednesday.

Hide Caption

143 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A Palestinian man holds a placard praising Islam's prophet Mohammed during a demonstration against the film on Wednesday in front of the United Nations headquarters in Gaza City.

Hide Caption

144 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Palestinian men burn the American flag during Wednesday's demonstration in Gaza City.

Hide Caption

145 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – A man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames inside the U.S. Consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya, late on Tuesday, September 11.

Hide Caption

146 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is set on fire during a protest. Armed gunmen attacked the compound on Tuesday evening, clashing with Libyan security forces before the latter withdrew as they came under heavy fire.

Hide Caption

147 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters destroy an American flag pulled down from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

Hide Caption

148 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – People stand around a drawing that says "Remember your black day 11 September" during the protest in Cairo.

Hide Caption

149 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – People shout and light flares in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

150 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – People shout in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Hide Caption

151 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Protesters pull down a U.S. flag.

Hide Caption

152 of 157

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide157 photos

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – Thousands were angered by the controversial film.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings – An Egyptian protester waves a black flag inscribed with the Muslim profession of faith -- "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God" -- as he stands above the door of the U.S. Embassy.

Story highlights

The U.S. issues travel warnings for Sudan and Tunisia due to security concerns

Calm is restored in Cairo, site of the first protests tied to the inflammatory anti-Islam film

Even as anti-American violence eased Saturday around the Muslim world, tensions remained high -- stoked, in some nations, by the prospect of U.S. troops arriving to protect U.S. diplomatic missions.

The widespread protests connected to an online trailer for an inflammatory anti-Islam film privately produced in the United States were relatively thin and calm, and in some places nonexistent, on Saturday compared to earlier in the week.

Yet even with this relative break, the furor has not gone away completely, nor has concern over safety and security at U.S. embassies.

To that end, U.S. officials said earlier this week that Marine teams would be dispatched to protect U.S. diplomatic missions in Libya, Yemen and Sudan in the wake of anti-Western unrest in those countries.

Yemen's parliament issued a statement early Sunday demanding U.S. Marines leave the Arab country immediately, calling the presence of any foreign forces -- and U.S. troops in particular -- "unacceptable."

Some leading politicians, like Ahmed al-Bahri of the opposition Haq party, warned that even a few dozen American troops could "open the doors of hell for Yemen and give terrorists an excuse." Others like Abdul Majid al-Zindani, president of Yemen's Cleric Committee, equated the U.S. troops arrival to a foreign occupation.

Inside the U.S. consulate in Benghazi

Just Watched

Possible security leak in Libya

Zaid al-Thari, a political adviser to Yemen's ruling General People's Congress, speculated that the U.S. Marines recent arrival raises doubts about who was behind this week's attacks on the U.S. embassy in Sanaa that left four protesters dead.

"In the end of the day, the United States is benefiting more than all and was able to bring its forces inside Yemen," said al-Thari.

Even with the arrival of its troops, the U.S. government isn't taking chances in Yemen -- closing its embassy in Sanaa through Saturday, September 29, because of the threat of "potential demonstrations," according to the State Department.

Meanwhile, U.S. Marines that were to travel to Sudan have returned pending further talks with the government there, a U.S. official said.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Saturday that Washington has requested "additional security precautions" in Sudan, whose government "has recommitted itself both publicly and privately to continue to protect our (diplomatic) mission."

Sudan's foreign ministry turned down a U.S. request to send "special forces" to protect its embassy in Khartoum, saying Sudanese security forces would protect "the diplomatic missions (and) its guests," according to a report from the state-run Sudan News Agency.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned the United States will act to protect its diplomatic facilities if countries in question did not prevent violence and seek justice for attacks.

"Reasonable people and responsible leaders ... need to do everything they can to restore security and hold accountable those behind these violent acts," she said Friday. "And we will ... keep taking steps to protect our personnel around the world."

In Egypt, where violent protests began in earnest last Tuesday and continued to rage for days, government officials have recently criticized violence targeting the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and promised to protect it. Notably, too, the thousands who participated in these demonstrations represent a fraction of the roughly 11 million people in the Egyptian capital.

Still, statements from the Muslim Brotherhood -- the Islamist group that controls parliament and whose former leader of its political party, Mohammed Morsy, is now Egypt's president -- that are in English differ from those in Arabic, which tend to be less sympathetic to diplomatic missions and focus more on the inflammatory "Innocence of Muslims" video.

And anti-American sentiments remain high in certain places, as was evident at a protest outside a mosque Friday. Those participating accused the United States of supporting "international terror" and being an "enemy of God," with some chanting, "Obama, there are a million Osamas."

"Relations between countries of the so-called Arab Spring and the West have not yet taken complete shape," saying this is especially true with Egypt, Prime Minister Hesham Kandil said Saturday, according to the state-run MENA news agency.

On the ground Saturday night, there was a marked change in Cairo -- as relatively calm returned to the area around the U.S. embassy for the first time in nearly a week.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian security forces pushed protesters away from the embassy toward Tahrir Square, where they were eventually dispersed.

That gave workers the chance to finally clean the debris-ridden streets, business owners to assess the damage, and drivers to start moving against -- all under the watchful eye of hundreds of Egyptian riot police, who remained in the area.

The most heated demonstrations Saturday occurred not in the Middle East, ironically, but in a staunch United States' ally, Australia.

Carrying signs that read "Obama, Obama, we like Osama" and "Behead all those who insult the prophet," hundreds gathered on the steps of the U.S. consulate in Sydney.

The demonstration turned violent when authorities -- using tear gas and police dogs -- tried to push protesters away from the building. They were met with thrown bottles and shoes, the latter act considered a grave insult among Muslims. Six police officers were injured and eight people were arrested, Sydney police said. Seventeen people were treated for effects of pepper spray used by police.

Here's a breakdown of other developments Saturday from around the globe tied to furor over the anti-Islam film and related violence:

-- Kandil, Egypt's prime minister, said Saturday that his government has reliable information "a number" of people admitted to getting money to protest outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, while noting other demonstrators were genuine and not paid.

-- Four protesters died and 49 were wounded during an attack Friday on the U.S. Embassy in the Tunisian capital of Tunis, the state-run Tunisian News Agency reported Saturday, citing Charles Nicolle Hospital interim general director Souad Sadraoui. Interim Tunisian President Al-Munsif Al-Marzouki said late Friday on state-run TV that two were dead and more than 20 were injured, but authorities later hinted the death toll could rise.

-- All nonemergency personnel and relatives of State Department personnel at U.S. missions in Khartoum, Sudan, and Tunis, Tunisia, have been ordered to leave and travel warnings have been issued for American citizens for both those nations, Nuland from the U.S. State Department said Saturday.

-- In his weekly address, U.S. President Barack Obama urged Americans not to stereotype all those in the Muslim world. "Let us never forger that for every angry mob, there are millions who yearn for the freedom and dignity and hope that our flag represents," he said.

-- FBI investigators probing Tuesday's killings of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi put off a visit to Libya until conditions are safer. Agents had hoped to arrive in the North African nation Saturday, federal law enforcement officials said.

-- Libyan authorities said they are cooperating with U.S. investigators. "Things are moving very, very well," said Muhammad Alkari, a spokesman in the prime minister's office.

-- In Egypt's northern Sinai Peninsula, a large number of security forces backed by tanks on Saturday regained control of a base housing an international peacekeeping force that was breached a day earlier by Islamist militants, state-run EGYnews reported.

Egyptian security forces, including the military, have been fighting militants in Sinai since August after 16 border guards died in an attack by Islamist militants.

-- In Afghanistan, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a joint U.S.-British base in Helmand province that left two troops dead, saying the attack was in response to the film. The attack follows a call by the Taliban on its fighters to take revenge for the film by increasing assaults on NATO troops.

-- In Sudan's capital, Khartoum, the German and British embassies shored up their security after protesters managed to get inside a compound that is shared by both diplomatic missions, according to the foreign ministers of both nations.

-- The man behind the "Innocence of Muslims" video, identified as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, was willingly interviewed early Saturday by a federal probation officer, said Steve Whitmore of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The questioning came hours after federal officials said they were reviewing Nakoula's probation in connection with a 2010 bank fraud conviction.

-- The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Saturday it had released a video appeal to those protesting the movie. A message in Arabic tells viewers in the Middle East that "ordinary Americans and the U.S. government should not be blamed for the religious hatred expressed in the film," the group said in a statement.

A testy exchange erupted between Sen. John McCain and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey during the latter's testimony about September's deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.